Keck Private Investigations

Organized retail crime (ORC) now costs retailers over $112 billion annually in shrink, which includes direct losses and operational disruptions (Investopedia, 2023). These crimes frequently involve violence. Recent data indicate that 73 percent of retailers report increased aggression by shoplifters compared with the previous year, and 91 percent report higher levels of violence since 2019 (National Retail Federation, 2024). These figures highlight why the traditional tactic of immediate apprehension is losing favor.

Shifting Priorities: Safety Over Immediate Apprehension

Direct confrontation with suspects increases the risk of injury and legal exposure. Nearly 81 percent of retailers surveyed in the NRF 2023 National Retail Security Survey reported a rise in violence associated with ORC (Appriss Retail, 2023; Loss Prevention Media, 2024). Confrontations can escalate rapidly, leading to harm to employees, customers, and suspects, along with potential civil or criminal liability for the retailer.

Strategic Shift: Intelligence Gathering for Prosecution

More retailers now instruct staff to document suspicious behavior, capture video, and collaborate with law enforcement rather than attempting immediate apprehension. This intelligence-focused approach supports felony-level prosecutions. Approximately 70 percent of retailers report stronger partnerships with law enforcement in ORC cases, correlating with improved prosecution outcomes (Loss Prevention Media, 2024). In jurisdictions where retailers provide detailed evidence, authorities are more likely to pursue higher-level charges, which disrupt criminal networks over the long term.

Intelligence collection also informs operational insights. Security operations centers using incident data have supported over 1,200 arrests since 2020 by consolidating evidence and linking criminal behavior patterns (City Security Magazine, 2022).

The Best Defense Is Still Deterrence

Even with robust intelligence and prosecution efforts, prevention remains the most effective strategy. Research shows that visible security measures, trained staff, and comprehensive loss prevention programming reduce targeting by ORC networks (International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2021). Retailers that demonstrate vigilance and preparedness deter offenders before incidents occur, which lowers risk and cost.

KPI Mystery Shopping and ORC Audit Services

Keck Private Investigations offers targeted ORC-focused mystery shopping and audit services. These services reveal operational vulnerabilities, evaluate staff adherence to policies, and test security infrastructure. KPI’s ORC audits provide detailed intelligence on risk exposure and support corrective actions.

Our mystery shopping programs simulate ORC scenarios to assess response effectiveness. These programs supply retail clients with actionable data and expert recommendations designed to strengthen deterrence, support prosecutions, and protect assets, employees, and reputations.

Conclusion

Retailers face rising threats from organized retail crime, marked by increased violence and professional networks. The industry is moving away from risky confrontations toward intelligence gathering that underpins law enforcement collaboration and prosecution. However, the strongest defense remains prevention through deterrence. KPI can support this approach with mystery shopping and ORC audits that expose weaknesses, inform loss prevention strategies, and bolster your position for prosecution.

For a confidential consultation or to schedule an ORC audit, contact Keck Private Investigations. Effective deterrence and intelligence begin with awareness and expert partnership.

References

Appriss Retail (2023) ‘Organized Retail Crime 101: A Retailer’s Guide to Shrink Prevention’. Available at: https://apprissretail.com/blog/organized-retail-crime-101-a-retailers-guide-to-shrink-prevention/

City Security Magazine (2022) ‘Tackling Retail Crime: An Intelligence-Led Approach’. Available at: https://citysecuritymagazine.com/security-management/tackling-retail-crime-an-intelligence-led-approach-to/

International Association of Chiefs of Police (2021) ‘Retail Theft and Loss Prevention: A Guide for Law Enforcement’. Available at: https://www.theiacp.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/248996_IACP_RetailTheft_P5.pdf

Investopedia (2023) ‘Retail Crime Cost the Sector $112bn in Losses in 2022’. Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/retail-crime-cost-the-sector-usd112bn-in-losses-in-2022-7974958

Loss Prevention Media (2024) ‘ORC Across the States’. Available at: https://losspreventionmedia.com/orc-across-the-states/

National Retail Federation (2024) ‘The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence’. Available at: https://nrf.com/advocacy/policy-issues/organized-retail-crime